European Voluntary Service
Encyclopedia
European Voluntary Service (EVS) is the European Commission
's project that allows a young person (18–30 years) to become a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between 2–12 months. The service
activities can be, for example, in the field of environment
, arts and culture
, activities with children, young people
or the elderly, heritage or sports and leisure activities. Each project has three partners, a volunteer, a sending organisation and a host organisation. The project has to take place in a country other than where the volunteers lives, is non-profit-making and unpaid and last for a limited period (maximum 12 months).
An EVS project involves a triangular partnership, a volunteer, a sending organisation and a host organisation. One of the countries involved in a project must be an EU Member State or an accession country.
All volunteers are insured
against sickness
, accident
s, permanent invalidity, and repatriation in case of serious illness
, accident, and death
through AXA
http://www.europeanbenefits.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=197. The insurance also covers civil liability. This insurance complements the protection provided by the national social security (if applicable) which is proven by the E111 (or similar) form of the volunteer. All insurance costs are paid directly by the European Commission
and they are not included in project budgets.
A prospective volunteer's first step should be to find and contact a sending organisation and together consult the database of approved host placements.
All volunteers who have completed their EVS project are entitled to a certificate signed by the Head of the Youth Agency. This certificate validates their period of voluntary service and provides details of the activities in which they were involved. Volunteers from the programme countries also have the possibility to benefit from the Youth initiative action, and get involved in other Community programmes in general.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
's project that allows a young person (18–30 years) to become a volunteer in another country for a specified period, normally between 2–12 months. The service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
activities can be, for example, in the field of environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, arts and culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
, activities with children, young people
Young People
Young People is a 1961 Mexican crime film directed by Luis Alcoriza. It was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Teresa Velázquez - Olga * Julio Alemán - El Gato* Adriana Roel - Alicia...
or the elderly, heritage or sports and leisure activities. Each project has three partners, a volunteer, a sending organisation and a host organisation. The project has to take place in a country other than where the volunteers lives, is non-profit-making and unpaid and last for a limited period (maximum 12 months).
An EVS project involves a triangular partnership, a volunteer, a sending organisation and a host organisation. One of the countries involved in a project must be an EU Member State or an accession country.
Financial aspect
- The volunteer's international travel covers reasonable travel costs from the volunteer's home to the host organisation, and the costs are paid to the sending organisation in full when the volunteer uses the cheapest available train or plane ticket (e.g. discount air ticket, or equivalent). A copy of the ticket(s) must be attached to the final report.
- Contribution to the sending activities (recruitment, preparation, contact, assessment, follow-up) is a lump sum payment depending on the length of the project and is determined for each country.
- Exceptional volunteer costs related to the special needs of the volunteer (medical attendance, additional preparation, etc.) are paid in full, provided they are reasonable and justifiable.
- The volunteer's allowance is fixed per host country and is paid in full to the host organisation to be given to the volunteer weekly or monthly.
All volunteers are insured
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
against sickness
Illness
Illness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
, accident
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
s, permanent invalidity, and repatriation in case of serious illness
Illness
Illness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
, accident, and death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
through AXA
AXA
AXA S.A. is a French global insurance group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. AXA is a conglomerate of independently run businesses, operated according to the laws and regulations of many different countries. The AXA group of companies engage in life, health and other forms of...
http://www.europeanbenefits.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=197. The insurance also covers civil liability. This insurance complements the protection provided by the national social security (if applicable) which is proven by the E111 (or similar) form of the volunteer. All insurance costs are paid directly by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
and they are not included in project budgets.
Procedure
A prospective volunteer's first step should be to find and contact a sending organisation and together consult the database of approved host placements.
All volunteers who have completed their EVS project are entitled to a certificate signed by the Head of the Youth Agency. This certificate validates their period of voluntary service and provides details of the activities in which they were involved. Volunteers from the programme countries also have the possibility to benefit from the Youth initiative action, and get involved in other Community programmes in general.
External links
- http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/ - EU database with EVS accredited organisations
- What is EVS and rules and regulations of EVS
- Webguide for young people interested in EVS
- TerraNEON
- Official site
- Frequently Asked Questions
- http://eyfa.org/wiki/EVS Eyfa wikiEuropean Youth For ActionEuropean Youth For Action is an environmental youth network in Europe. It is based in Amsterdam and has partner organizations in 18 European countries.-History:...
on EVS - http://www.myevs.net (blog with EVS stories)
- http://www.youthnetworks.eu (database with EVS vacancies)
- http://blog.youthnetworks.eu (blog for youth organizations and their younsters)
- http://www.tripin.eu
- http://www.noborders.nl (Dutch)
- http://www.gajemee.nu/
- http://www.go4europe.de
- http://www.youthreporter.de/
- http://www.eco-jobs.info/
- http://www.evsactually.gr/
- http://www.yesforevs.eu/ (evs platform in English)
- http://www.clickonevs.eu/ (evs platform in Romanian)
- http://www.evs4u.ro/evs-opportunities (EVS database of current vacancies)
- http://www.bursanat.org (evs platform in Turkey)
- http://www.sve-crij-ca.eu (evs platform in Champagne-Ardenne, France)
- http://www.twip.pl (Coordinating organisation in Poland)
- http://www.evsblog.com